74 



EXPEDITION TO CHANCHAMAYO. 



beads, <fcc, but that, on the occasion of the war in 1824, the supplies 

 had been stopped, and the Indians would come no more. He, as did 

 the sub-prefect, liked my idea of ascending from the mouth of the 

 Ucayali, with a properly-equipped Indian force, and looking into the 

 navigability of the Perene and Chanchamayo that way. 



The latitude of Tarma, by mean of Mer. altitudes of ct and & Cen- 

 tauri, is 11° 25' 05" S. 



June 16. — We left Tarma for the Chanchamayo. This is the first 

 time I have applied to authority for the means of locomotion. I did it 

 inadvertently, and was sorry for it ; for, though I would probably have 

 been cheated in the price, yet I should not have been the cause of in- 

 justice and oppression. I had said to the sub-prefect, a few days before, 

 that I wanted the means of transportation for some baggage to Chan- 

 chamayo, which he promised to furnish me. Yesterday I went to ask 

 for it for to-day, and he referred me to the governor of the district, who 

 was present, and who told me that he would have what I required — viz : 

 two asses and a saddle mule, with two peons — ready by to-morrow 

 morning. Accordingly, this morning he sent for me, and presented to 

 me the owner of the mule, the owner of the asses, and the two peons. 

 The wages of these were to be four reals, or half a dollar, a day ; and I 

 paid each three dollars in advance. To the governor I paid a dollar for 

 each ass, and two for the mule, with the understanding that I was to 

 pay as much more on my return. The peons were then lectured on 

 their duties, and sent round to my house with an escort of half a dozen 

 alguaziles, or constables, armed with sticks, to prevent their escaping or 

 getting drunk before the start. The asses and mules were also sent 

 round under a similar guard, so that my patio seemed filled with a 

 clamorous multitude, who created such a confusion that I had to turn 

 out all but m) T own people. I ordered these to load up ; but they said 

 that the owners of the asses had sent no lassos, or thongs, to bind on the 

 burdens; and I soon discovered that there was a general unwillingness 

 for the job, and that the governor had pressed the animals into the 

 service against the will of the owners. 



Strong efforts were made to get the mule away from me. The 

 woman of the house, who, it appears, was a sister of the owner, advised 

 me not to take it ; and said that it was a bad, vicious animal, that would 

 do me a mischief. I was surprised at this, as he looked particularly 

 docile ; and I directed my new servant (one recommended by the Cura, 

 and who looked twice as vicious as the mule) to mount and ride him 

 around the patio. The fellow grinned maliciously, and proved my judg- 

 ment correct. Finding this would not do, the owner (who had put his 



